Two elderly brothers were rescued by neighbours from their burning home on Waiheke Island and taken to hospital yesterday.
A loud explosion was heard at the Sea View Rd house in Onetangi just after 1pm, when John and David West were inside.
Bruce Sciascia, deputy fire chief officer on the
island, said neighbours helped get the men out, one of whom was physically disabled.
He said fire engulfed the house quickly, gutting it.
"The roof collapsed not long after we arrived so it is a total loss, unfortunately," he said.
Four engines battled the blaze for about 45 minutes and staff were still dampening hotspots several hours later. Fire investigators were working to determine the cause.
A Waiheke Island resident, who did not want to be named, was on his way to the nearby supermarket when he saw a "plume of smoke" in the air.
It appeared to be coming from a colleague's house so he drove toward the smoke to ensure she was safe.
"It looked a lot more than any backyard fire so I went straight there," he said.
But the woman was in her office - next door to the fire - oblivious to what was happening.
The West brothers were last night in a stable condition in the Middlemore Hospital burns unit. A spokesman said they were transferred from emergency care just before 7pm.
